♪ >> We're hitting the road in our trusty travelling auction house.

>> Whoa-ho!

>> Your tools are gonna be shaking around.

On the hunt for treasures hidden in homes all across Britain.

Whoa.

This is pretty full.

>> That's huge.

And our mission -- to find these unloved and forgotten gems, give them a new lease of life, and make them into money.

>> Oh, wow.

Look at that.

Transforming has-beens into must-haves.

>> It's a job well worth doing.

>> Master restorer Will Kirk.

>> Glue, glue, and good as new.

And finding value in those overlooked objects, auction supremo Christina Trevanion.

>> Is that a Fender Strat?

>> It is.

>> Here we go.

Everything we find... >> ...and fix... >> ...will go under the hammer in our travelling sale room.

£850, £900.

>> Popping up in the most surprising of places, we bring the auction to you.

>> £2,200.

[ Gavel bangs ] You know what we say -- Have gavel, will travel.

♪ ♪ >> This morning, we're in the wilds of Wiltshire.

>> Big hole.

Big hole.

>> Whoa!

Whoa, Nelly.

>> Big hole.

♪ And winding our way to the mystical market town of Marlborough.

Do you believe in magic?

>> Of course I do.

>> Yeah!

The grandfather of wizards, Merlin... >> Merlin?

>> Yes, Merlin.

...buried here in Marlborough.

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

>> I'm a massive fan of wizards and wizardry.

>> Wow.

>> Dressing up as a wizard is my go-to outfit for any fancy dress.

>> Is it?

>> It is.

It is.

♪ ♪ Today we're hoping to work our magic for Caroline.

>> So I'm gonna make a cake.

>> She's being accompanied by her son Tom, who's visiting from his home in nearby Bristol.

Caroline, her husband, youngest daughter, and family all live here at the house in Marlborough, along with Stanley the parrot.

>> [ Laughs ] ♪ >> I've been in this house all my life -- over 70 years -- and children have played in this beautiful garden.

It's been pretty idyllic, really.

Lovely.

♪ >> The home was also a successful bed-and-breakfast for 15 years.

But after business suffered during the pandemic, the family's decided it's time for a new chapter.

>> I think, at this stage of life, you know, you don't realize until you get older that, actually, you just haven't got the energy for all this upkeep and things.

♪ >> I think there'll be a lot of positives to come from it, ultimately, but, yes, that's not to say it won't be tricky on the day.

I think it'll be tough for mum, I'm sure.

>> A very wise old lady said to me once, "It doesn't matter where you live.

What matters is that you live where you are."

And I think I've tried to hold on to that.

♪ >> What's the longest you've lived in a home for?

>> I moved out when I was 23.

I remember driving away, mum was crying out the window.

>> Does she wash your socks still?

>> You know, for a few months after, I was still taking my washing back.

>> Why doesn't that surprise me?

Boys just do that, don't they?

>> However, if any furniture breaks, who does she call?

>> Ah, there we go.

>> There you go.

Works both ways.

♪ >> Five generations of Caroline's family have lived here since the 1930s, so downsizing means saying goodbye to items that have been collected for nearly a century.

>> We have a huge number of possessions and a lot of stuff.

This has been a long, old process, and now I'm absolutely ready to think things are going to a new home with new love.

♪ >> And that's where Christina and I come in.

>> I'll be trawling for treasures.

>> And I'll be seeking out some projects... >> To make space in the house.

>> And a pretty penny at auction.

>> I'm very, very excited about today.

I'm very, very, very excited about today.

If you've got five generations living in one house for that long, there's gonna be some good stuff, isn't there?

Five generations, Will.

Five.

♪ >> Five generations and just one day to hunt.

I can't wait to get started.

Anyone home?

>> She is.

>> Hey!

>> Hello.

>> Hello.

You must be Caroline.

Thank you.

Gorgeous.

Right.

Let's go.

You must be Tom.

>> Yeah, nice to meet you.

Hi.

>> And that's Stanley the parrot.

>> Oh, hi, Stanley!

Let's hope we find some pieces of eight, Stanley.

Are we okay to just go for an explore, Caroline?

>> Yeah, please do.

>> We've got nine rooms to rifle through, and some are a bit of a squeeze.

>> Can't stand up in here.

We've got our work cut out, so we're splitting up to search.

[ Bell rings ] >> Whoa!

That is loud.

>> Soon enough, something catches my eye.

Look at this.

The top is really bleached.

It would be quite nice to get some color back into the top so it actually matches in with everything else.

And the chip in the veneer on the outside edge there, be good to patch that.

>> Great first find, Will.

And in the front room, the search continues for me.

>> I want to take a closer look at this little beauty.

But first, I need to transform the van into my mobile workshop.

♪ ♪ >> Meanwhile, I've spotted something glistening in the dining room.

Silver!

Look at that.

Oh, those are nice.

Even when you just look at them in the very, very first instance, my head just says, "Adam style, neoclassical."

This refers to the work of 18th-century architect Robert Adam, who took classical Roman building designs and reinvented them with a modern twist.

This elegant style took off and was incorporated everywhere.

Even ordinary items within the home had an Adam makeover.

In the early 20th century, there was a huge revival of neoclassicism and that sort of very elegant, very simple architectural style that we know as the Adam style.

Now, these have got a Sheffield hallmark for 1912, so those are really rather nice.

They are loaded, so they are not solid silver, which you would hope they would be.

That would make them more valuable.

They have been filled to make them more weighty so that your candle doesn't fall over in the middle of your dinner party.

That would be slightly embarrassing, wouldn't it?

Set fire to your soufflé.

But those really are rather nice.

And the joy of this is not only do you have one, you have two.

What would I say at auction?

I would hope £100 to £200.

Very nice.

We're off to a flying start.

One room down and plenty to go.

>> There's a lot of stuff here and with quite a diverse breadth.

>> It will be really good to have Will and Christina's assistance with this, because we've never really thought of the value of things.

And some of the wood things around, I'm hoping that Will maybe can look at and tidy up a bit with his magic.

>> Time to wave your magic wand, Will.

I've seen tables like those reach £150 to £250 in the saleroom.

>> Whilst carrying this, I realized this is actually quite a heavy table.

And the reason is, there's a hell of a lot of wood on the top here.

And that's because it's not just your ordinary table.

It opens up to a sort of tea table.

And then it opens up further to a games table.

And then it opens up to, like, a writing table.

You can put your inkwells on the inside there and your quill or your pen there.

And then it opens up again on the inside.

All that storage for your letters and your trinkets.

This is the never-ending table.

It's great.

What's not great, though, is the bleached color on the top.

This is called sun fading, and it's a common problem with wooden furniture that's been exposed to daylight.

But I've got a plan to bring it back to life.

Right.

Better get my tools.

>> Hmm.

Back inside, and time's a-ticking.

That is a rather magnificent long-case clock, isn't it?

Look at that.

"Tempus fugit."

"Time flies."

Does, doesn't it?

"Presented to Mr. Loveday upon his retirement, December 1909."

That brings giving somebody a gold watch on their retirement to a whole new level, doesn't it?

You're not gonna get a gold watch, no, no, no.

You're gonna get a long-case clock.

This is one of Caroline's husband's heirlooms.

Understandably, he doesn't want to part with it.

And looking at the eclectic collection in the house, it's clear that antiques run in this family's blood.

>> I've grown up in a house full of memories, and my father was a huge collector and so on.

>> My grandfather certainly had a very significant and enduring impact on my life.

And I think being around all that as a young man, yeah, I've always had a love of collecting.

>> I think my father would be very, very pleased that his collections of all sorts were going to appreciative homes.

His thing always was, "Do what you like with this.

That's your decision.

The fun has been in the collecting."

♪ >> In the study, I've found some items that are floating my boat.

Those are really interesting.

What have we got here?

"Mutiny on the 'Bounty.'

Captain Bligh is cast" -- Oh, poor old Captain Bligh.

Yeah, he's cast adrift with his companions in the open boat.

And there they all are!

Wow!

♪ The HMS Bounty set sail from Tahiti in April 1789 under the watchful eye of Captain William Bligh.

But within a month, many of the crew became frustrated with his leadership and mutinied, setting Bligh and his loyal men adrift in a longboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

This diorama captures that very moment.

But the question is, what's it doing in Marlborough?

Caroline, as far as I was concerned, Wiltshire is a landlocked county, isn't it?

>> Yeah, we have a canal, got canals, but... >> I'm not totally sure that counts.

>> Dad really had a love for the sea.

Just had this fascination with the Bounty.

And he was quite an authority on Bligh, really.

And he was invited to go onboard the ship which was used in the "Mutiny on the Bounty" film.

>> Oh, really?

>> In Florida.

Yeah.

>> Oh, my goodness.

So it was his thing, it was his passion.

And did he have this kind of pride of place somewhere?

>> Yeah, this he made up.

>> Oh, he made this?

>> Yeah, he made this.

>> That's incredible, isn't it?

I bet he put his heart and soul into every single piece of rigging.

Well, it obviously brought him a huge amount of joy.

>> It's lovely to think it might be going to somebody who, you know, collects them and really, really enjoys them and appreciates them.

That would be good.

>> I think this model of the Bounty could fetch between £250 and £350 at auction.

Ships ahoy!

I have to be honest.

I'm slightly terrified even contemplating moving them.

>> Yeah, to move it.

>> [ Laughing ] Yeah.

>> Oh, you need a strong man, I think, don't you, on the job, to help.

>> Well, I do.

You're absolutely right.

But Will's outside, so I'll get him, yeah.

He'll do it, won't he?

>> Charming.

Well, Christina, it'll have to wait, as I've got my hands full with that multipurpose table.

Now, the top should actually be polished with a shellac polish, which is often used in French polishing.

In order to break that down, you use meths.

I'm applying it with my old favorite -- some fine steel wool.

I can already feel the meths is beginning to soften the polish.

It's starting to break away.

Now, I could sand the top, but by using this method, the table will keep some of its minor imperfections that give it so much character.

It just takes a little bit of patience.

I'm gonna keep on with this process, applying the meths, cleaning it back, changing my steel wool until it's really broken down that surface and it evens it out.

The tortoise and the hare -- I don't want to rush this because it's gonna give me a wonderful end result.

>> It's good to see you're busy, Will.

[ Knocking on window ] And I'm powering on inside, leaving no stone unturned or gavel unbashed.

Look at these.

Oh, gosh, that's a good gavel.

What have we got going on here?

A load of gavels.

That's a bit broken.

Oh, that's a shame.

But look, you've got the missing bit taped on to the side.

So I'm wondering whether Will, with his infamous glue, can do something about that.

Who knows?

There could be a budding auctioneer interested in these at the auction.

Hello!

>> Hello.

>> Now, here's a question for you.

What do you think the collective noun is for a load of gavels?

>> [ Chuckles ] Gavels?

I've got no idea.

>> I don't really know, either, but I'm suggesting a lot of gavels.

Will, I need you and your glue.

Look, broken bracket.

>> Broken bracket?

Is that the bit there?

Could have done that yourself, Christina.

>> Well, you're probably right.

Well, Will, you know what they say.

The devil makes work for idle hands.

Can you do that?

>> I can do that, yeah.

>> Get gaveling.

>> Get gaveling.

Fix it up.

>> See you later.

>> Another job for the list.

But before I get gaveling, I've got the table to tackle.

All the methylated spirits has now evaporated.

And the top has been fully cleaned back of any preexisting varnish and any dirt or wax.

The next step is coating the surface with some sanding sealer, which will help to make sure that I end up with a lovely, smooth finish for polishing.

There we are.

Already there's a huge change in the color in this wood.

You can see that sort of true richness of the mahogany coming through.

Now, that's what this should have looked like when I came into the house.

Whilst the sealer dries, I can turn my attention to the chip on the front.

I had to rummage around in the van for some decent veneer to patch this with, and I found this block of wood.

The veneer from this old door is exactly what I need to patch up the table.

I've started to shape it up.

And I've got this lovely little piece here.

I'm hoping that with a spot of instant adhesive, it'll fit like a glove.

And just like that... nice and dry.

Right.

I just need to trim around the edge there.

Then I can add a bit of pigment and polish to that to blend it in with everything else.

>> What a gem you are, Will.

Speaking of which...

Here we go.

>> Inside, my hunting has paid off.

I found some hidden treasure.

So you have got here quite a collection of gold going on.

You've got two distinct charm bracelets here, one which has got a little sovereign on it.

I would say, at auction, we're probably looking at £400 to £600, if not a little bit more on a good day.

>> Yeah.

>> We've got another one, which is probably worth another £300 to £500.

£400 to £600 there, as well.

>> Gosh.

>> We've got three 22-karat gold wedding bands here, which I would happily put £200 to £300 on those.

And you've got a really rather beautiful tourmaline and diamond clustering there.

A very beautiful piece.

And again, another £200 to £300.

So I would say you've got well over £1,000 on this tray, and that's not including all the little bits and bobs that we haven't sort of discussed about.

Are you happy to let them go, Caroline?

>> I've been brought up in a family that's, you know, caught up with sentimentality and collecting everything.

But this is really a new start for us, you know, and if they're going to raise such, we can all do something really nice with it, which is preferable than having it sitting in a box.

>> Sounds wonderful, Caroline.

Let's just hope the bidders agree with Christina when this goes under the hammer.

Speaking of which... What a collection of gavels.

Hey, Tom.

>> Hey, Will.

>> I kind of feel like I'm a judge, you know?

Order!

Order!

Where are these from?

>> They would have belonged to my great-grandfather Walter And my grandfather Harold and my dad.

>> Oh, really?

So they were auctioneers?

>> Yeah.

Yeah.

My great-grandfather Walter set up the family business back in 1892, over 100 years ago.

So I'm guessing that one or two of these might be as old as that.

>> That's nearly as old as Christina.

[ Speaks indistinctly ] These really are great.

Well, leave it with me, and I'll get this looking lovely again.

>> Oh, amazing.

Thanks a lot.

>> See you in a bit.

If it's taken a bashing for over a century, it's no surprise that the gavel stand could do with some TLC.

To start with, I want to tackle the broken bracket.

Thankfully, I've got this piece of wood here.

Now, this is gonna be a relatively quick fix.

I'm gonna use some instant adhesive here to glue it back together.

Pop that in place.

Just like that, that's already dried.

However, I think I can go one better and get the whole stand gleaming again.

First things first -- a light sanding.

I don't want to lose too much of the original polish.

So it's just to remove any surface dirt prior to polishing.

[ Blows ] There we are.

Now, this is shellac polish with black pigment.

This is just gonna give this base a nice sheen and a wonderful finish.

I really want to catch someone's eye on auction day, so I'm hoping this is gonna do the trick.

>> Great job, Will.

And I think I might have unearthed something pretty special.

♪ A rifle through Caroline's correspondence has uncovered books full of autographs from rock and pop stars of the 1960s.

Dusty Springfield!

Two Dusty Springfields.

These are very cool.

Even better, I think Dusty had a little help from her friends.

Caroline, do I recognize that signature?

>> Well, it's George Harrison's, actually.

Or part of his.

It's a George bit.

>> Yeah!

>> Yeah, which is -- >> With respect, why is that on the inside cover of a London map?

>> Well, it goes back to my days in London.

I think it was 1969, and I lived in Abercorn Place, which is just down from Abbey Road Studios.

And I came out one morning, and saw, "There's some activity going on in the zebra crossing.

Oh, hang on.

It's the Beatles."

And it was, now I realize, that iconic shot.

>> Yeah.

>> So I said, "Ooh, could I have your autograph," to George Harrison.

That's all I had in my bag, the "A to zed."

So he did "George" and then was called away.

"Come on, lads," you know, and off they went.

>> Walk back over that zebra crossing.

>> Absolutely.

>> Caroline, tell me, did you realize when you were accosting this young man on the street what a significant moment in time that you had been there for, because -- >> No.

Not in a million years.

>> Now, normally, the autographs that I've seen, you've had the four of them together, and they signed their full name.

But the fact that it is on a contemporary map of London at the time and, what's more important than anything, is the fact that this isn't something that you sent away to them to get signed, you were there.

>> Oh, I know.

And it was so exciting.

>> As you can imagine, Beatles signatures are always popular at auction.

So George by himself, without his surname, I think, makes this probably maybe £200 to £300 at auction.

>> Oh, my goodness, yeah.

>> But probably the most -- >> That's not to be sneezed at.

>> It is not to be sneezed at.

You're absolutely right.

I think it is wonderful.

Are you happy to pop it into the auction?

>> Oh, yes, I'd love to.

Yeah.

>> Magic.

>> That would be great.

>> Well, Christina, it might not be "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," but now the polish has dried, I'm pleased with how the gavel stand has spruced up.

And that means I can get to finishing the table.

The sanding sealer has dried on the top, so I'm giving it a very light sand-down with some incredibly fine sandpaper.

The next stage is applying a shellac polish, exactly the same stuff that was used on the table originally.

Oh, look at that.

Already, just with that first rub of polish, you can see there's a huge difference in the color there.

That's really good.

I'm going to carry on adding thin coats to give the table a really lustrous sheen that, I hope, will dazzle the bidders on auction day.

>> Back inside, having scoured the ground floor, I've headed upstairs...

Okay.

Right.

Ooh.

...in search of a new front-runner.

Tom, come on in.

Are you a horsey man, Tom?

>> Am I a horsey man?

>> Yeah.

Sometimes in the morning?

>> Occasionally, yeah.

>> I found these silks.

Now, tell me, where on Earth have they come from?

Because if you're not horsey, then who in the family was?

>> My grandfather was a master saddler and made saddles for the royal family.

>> Oh, wow!

>> Yeah.

>> That's pretty exciting.

>> And I gather that, in his acquiring of a firm in Newmarket that made racing silks, he also acquired these.

>> These two silks here?

>> Yeah.

>> Horse racing colors, or jockey silks, originated in England.

The sport had become so popular by the mid-1700s, owners needed to register their own colors so that their horse and jockey could be easily recognized in a crowded race.

And Tom and Caroline's silks belonged to someone rather special.

In front of me here, we have the race colors of one of the most important political figures of the 20th century, Sir Winston Churchill.

You have not only the shirt, which is tiny, isn't it?

>> Yeah, I don't think it would have fitted Winston.

>> No, no.

I think you're probably right.

Then you've got the actual cap, as well, a rather lovely brow band, a horseshoe, and a little miniature rosette or something there.

Sporting memorabilia collectors are very, very careful who they go to to buy things from.

And whilst I would love to offer this at auction, I feel that we need to take it to a specialist sporting memorabilia auction who will already have the contacts to sell these to in order to make you and your mum the most possible money.

You've got racing silks belonging to Winston Churchill.

I mean, that is -- this could be the crème de la crème of somebody's collection.

But this one takes it to a whole new level.

We've got racing silk of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

>> That's right.

Yeah.

>> There's a couple of things that I find a little bit confusing, because the official silks for the queen should be quite a dark purple and red.

>> Oh, right.

>> I've just got a funny feeling these actually might have belonged to her father.

I think these might be slightly older.

We need to take it to somebody who is an absolute specialist in this field in order to research and make sure, because if they are the Queen's silks, they're worth a lot of money.

This could be really exciting, Tom.

>> It's really exciting.

Yeah.

>> Place your bets, people.

Now I've finished the gavels and the table... Oh, I love these.

...I'm getting back in the saddle, too, by seeing if there's anything hiding downstairs.

Right.

That's really smart.

An antique coffer.

This is sort of one of the staple bits of furniture you find in a lot of country houses.

One of the oldest types of furniture to be made.

So we have three hinges on the back, and I think one of them, that one down at the end there, seems to be damaged.

This is a lovely piece of furniture.

>> I think that could fly at auction.

Hello, Stanley.

Speaking of which... Hello.

Can you say "Will"?

"Will."

>> Nice try, Christina.

I've brought the coffer outside to take a closer look.

It's made of solid oak, but, unfortunately, it looks like woodworm has started to attack the back of it.

I suspect that's why this hinge has broken.

Woodworm can really ravage furniture from the inside out, so the damage isn't always visible.

However, if you knock on the surface and it sounds solid rather than hollow, chances are, it's superficial.

Luckily, that seems to be the case here, so I'm confident that I can glue the hinge back in place.

Because the surface area is quite rough, I'm just using my finger to really work that glue into all the crevices.

I'm gonna clamp this up.

I'm just gonna use this scrap piece of wood here to keep everything nice and flush and in place whilst everything is drying.

Lovely.

I'm gonna leave that to dry now, and once it has, I can give the rest of this lovely chest a wax and a bath.

>> Will, you're a trooper.

I think he deserves a pick-me-up, don't you?

Hello!

>> Hello.

Ooh, is that for me?

>> Well [inhales sharply] yes.

>> You've nibbled the front off.

I can see.

>> This is the last slice of Caroline's cake.

>> Oh, very kind of you.

Thank you very much.

>> Bit a rocket fuel for the last push.

>> Yes.

The final push.

>> Exactly.

See you later.

>> Thanks a lot.

Om!

Mmm, that's good cake.

Aw, it's nice to know she cares.

But I'm not the only one who's been busy.

What Christina doesn't know is that, earlier, I spotted nine dining chairs that looked like they'd seen better days.

Although structurally sound... they'd benefit from being reupholstered.

That's not something I can do with the tools I have in the van, so I sent them off to a local expert.

>> My name is Erica Sorden.

I'm a retired police officer, and I retrained to be an upholsterer 11 years ago.

And I absolutely love it.

>> Erica starts by stripping down the old seats... >> A little tip -- Roll the pliers against the piece of furniture, and let the tools do the work for you.

>> ...layer by delicate layer.

>> This foam has seen much better days.

It's got no bounce left in it at all.

It's been put over the original stuffing, which is horsehair.

>> Then with a blank canvas, she can build the seats back up again with modern materials that'll ensure plenty more years of use, including a fire-retardant fabric.

>> Oh, lovely.

It's the most beautiful dining suite.

And I think with the new fabric giving it a new lease of life, it's just gonna look amazing.

And I think it's going to go like hotcakes at the auction.

It'll be fantastic.

>> You certainly kept those quiet, Will.

I can't wait to see the fruits of Erica's labor on auction day.

Back in Marlborough, I'm rifling through the last of Caroline's cupboards, and I've stumbled on some interesting military memorabilia.

>> Oh, the medals.

Yeah.

>> Yes.

We've got an Indian General Service Medal here with two bars.

We've got Burma 1887 to '89 and Burma 1889 to 1892 and also the miniature that goes with it, as well.

This little note that was in them, is that who they belong to?

>> So this note, Burma campaigns medal... >> Yes.

>> ..."Awarded to Lieutenant Benjamin Kempson."

They were given to my grandfather by his friend, who was a Kempson.

A grandson, perhaps.

>> That is really interesting.

I love the fact that you've got that provenance to them.

When it comes to medals, it's all about the naming of them.

And the fact that we've got a little bit of background for them, as well, really does add to the value.

And the fact that it's in this really rather beautiful case.

It's really special.

>> Yeah, it's nice.

>> These medals could make between £200 and £400 at auction.

But importantly, rather than languishing in the back of a cupboard, they'll hopefully be snapped up by an enthusiast.

So I would suggest, personally, that for these to go to a medal collector who was passionate about medals and passionate about potentially the regiment, the conflict would be a really quite nice thing to do.

>> Yeah, they're good to go.

>> They're good to go.

>> What a find to pull out the bag at the last moment.

I've also been hard at work outside on the coffer.

With the hinge glued, I applied a dark beeswax, and it's really brought up the beauty of the wood.

Everything has been waxed and buffed up now.

I've added a tiny bit of wood filler in the back here, where that split was.

The hinge is working.

Everything looks beautiful.

And this chest is good to go.

I can't wait to see this get sold at auction.

The rejuvenated coffer will take pride of place at auction, along with the demilune table and those gorgeous gavels.

>> You've certainly been busy, Will.

Here we go.

But I haven't exactly rested on my laurels, either.

Hmm.

Amongst the treats I've got in store for auction day are the nautical models, Caroline's beautiful jewelry collection, the silver candlesticks, the '60s autographs, and not forgetting the jockey silks that I'm sending to a specialist sporting memorabilia auction.

What an exciting find.

Caroline and Tom, I genuinely thought that Will just had a bed in the back of the van and, whilst I was busy in here, he'd be outside just having a kip.

>> Presumably.

>> Yeah, presumably.

But, look.

>> Presumably?

Look at the state of these hands.

>> My goodness!

There we go.

He's been a busy boy.

>> He's definitely been hard at work.

>> We have found some absolutely fascinating things today.

>> It's been lovely having you, really.

And, you know, great invasion.

Any time.

Any time.

>> Well, we will see you next time at the auction.

>> Yeah, well, let's hope all my hard work pays off.

How about that?

>> Oh, there we go.

My goodness.

The generations of Caroline's family that have lived in this beautiful home certainly didn't disappoint.

Off we go.

Next stop, the auction.

>> Okay, go!

>> Whoa.

Hey.

>> Go, Vanetta, go.

>> There we are.

>> That's if we make it there in one piece.

Do you think Stanley will be allowed to come to the auction?

>> Oh, well, that'd be lovely.

>> He could bid.

Hello!

>> [ Laughing ] Exactly.

>> It's gonna be a really fun and very eclectic auction.

>> Fingers crossed, or wings crossed.

>> Wings crossed.

>> So with everything crossable crossed, it's time for us to get some well-earned shut-eye.

♪ Three weeks later, it's auction day, and we're in Worcestershire, excited to see what the bidders make of Caroline and Tom's eclectic items.

>> I've never been to a house where there is such a diverse mix of stuff.

>> I'm hoping today everything is gonna get sold.

>> We're heading for Avoncroft Museum, where we'll be setting up our mobile auction.

This site is home to over 30 ancient buildings that have been rescued and rebuilt so their history can be preserved.

>> Right.

I'm looking for a sign for the museum.

>> "Eggs"!

>> No, that's not a sign for the museum.

♪ Having found the museum at last, we've been given a pitch outside with plenty of room for local bidders.

>> And bang on time, Caroline and Tom have arrived for the auction.

>> Hello.

>> Hello, Will.

Hi.

>> Nice to see you both again.

>> Good to see you.

Wow, look at these.

>> I know.

>> Amazing!

>> Do you recognize these chairs anymore?

>> Nope.

>> Well, they were yours.

>> Let's remind ourselves what they looked like before, shall we?

This set of chairs was looking a little worse for wear, with outdated seat covers, until our expert restorer gave them a new lease of life.

>> There we go.

>> And this expert restorer's been hard at work, too.

What do you think about this?

>> Oh, Will, it looks wonderful.

It's beautiful.

>> Lovely.

>> Gosh, it's like new.

It's wonderful.

>> It was quite tatty before, wasn't it?

>> It was a bit tatty.

I've cleaned off the surface, repolished it, and it's good to go.

>> And our restoration projects are just two of 29 lots in the auction today, including other items we found in our search that will hopefully raise some cash for Caroline and Tom.

>> Are you gonna be sad to see this go?

>> Of all of the things, I think this is the thing I'll be a bit sorry about, particularly now because it looks so lovely.

It's a nice thing for somebody to buy, hopefully, you know?

>> Somebody will enjoy it.

>> Absolutely.

Yeah.

>> And if they don't, I might better take this home for myself.

[ Laughter ] ♪ >> As well as our open-air auction, we've got Sonya and Emma from local saleroom Hansons Auctioneers taking care of our online bids.

So let's get this auction started.

♪ Shall we start without further ado?

To get us going, one of the standout items from Caroline's jewelry collection, a 9-karat gold charm bracelet, including a parrot.

I sense a theme going on here.

Here, I've got 260, 280, £300 with my commission bidder.

I'm selling online at £320.

And that's a great start.

But there's another charm bracelet to follow with even more solid gold and other charms.

£540.

I'm starting this out at £540.

I'm looking for £560.

At £540, looking for 560.

But selling it if we're all settled or finished at £540.

That's an even better result.

And already the cash is flowing in.

>> You happy with that?

>> Yeah.

Very happy.

Very happy.

>> Next up is Will's lovingly restored combination games, writing and tea table.

>> This was quite sun-bleached on the top and I gave it a new French polish.

>> It is beautiful.

A really nice example of its type and now absolutely fresh and ready to go.

Interest in it at £150, online.

At £150, I'm selling online at £150.

>> That's a decent result.

And that's some space freed up to make that downsize a bit easier.

>> Thank you, lovely.

>> Now a set of Victorian military medals from the Burma campaign that were gifted to Tom's grandfather.

>> Really beautiful set of medals here, and I've already got £320 as bid with your bidder, Emma, now looking for £340.

And I will sell, fair warning if we're all settled, at £320.

And that's another historical gem that's found a new home.

Next, more from that treasure trove of family jewelry that Caroline had kept for sentimental reasons, starting with three 22-karat gold wedding bands.

Yeah, I've got to start this at £300, at 320 with my commission bidder.

Thank you, at £320.

Looking for 340 now.

At £320.

And a blingy statement ring belonging to her grandmother.

Oh, that's exquisite.

I love this ring.

I wish I could bid on it.

£110.

>> Pleased?

>> Yeah.

Yeah.

>> The bidders are loving the jewelry.

At £90 I have, and I'm selling at £90.

And even a lot of costume jewelry goes for almost three times the estimate.

>> That's great.

That's great.

>> And over the next 10 minutes... >> There they are, a little group of them showing for us there.

>> ...Christina sells four more lots of gold and silver jewelry and watches... ...making just over £1,500 for Caroline's family jewelry.

Well done, Christina.

That's made some happy customers and put some money in the coffers.

Up next, a set of mahogany dining chairs that have had a bit of a makeover.

>> I'm looking for £300 for the set of chairs here.

For £300.

At 300 anywhere.

Do you want me to ask less, Caroline?

>> Sadly, yes.

>> £200.

I'm looking for £200 for the chairs at £200.

Any interest at £200?

We'll pass at 200.

We just didn't have the right bidders in the room today.

But I'm sure these rejuvenated chairs will find a new home very soon.

>> Up next, the pair of silver neoclassical candlesticks.

>> And I'm looking for £80 for them, for the candlesticks.

Pair of silver candlesticks here for £80, surely, at £80.

No, you have to use those for another dinner party, Carolina, I'm afraid.

Another disappointment.

But there's always another day.

Now for a little piece of auctioneering history.

>> So is this how it feels, Christina?

>> Yeah.

>> Sold.

>> Welcome to my world.

>> Well, I hope these sell.

[ Laughter ] >> It's the early 20th century gavel that Will polished up, ready for sale.

>> So I repolished the surface, waxed the -- What would you call that part there?

>> The handle.

>> The handle.

[ Laughter ] >> Alright.

Just making sure you haven't fallen asleep.

Smarty pants.

There you go.

Anyway, I fixed it.

Alright?

So if you fancy yourself as the next Christina, get bidding.

>> And who doesn't?

>> Moving swiftly on.

Shall we get the bidding started, Christina?

>> At £70, I'm looking for 75.

If not, I will be selling to my absentee bidder.

Selling that at 70.

>> Sold!

>> Yay!

>> Yay.

Thank you.

>> Don't get any big ideas, Will.

Well done, Will.

And there's only a couple of items to go.

Starting with some of Caroline's teenage treasures.

This was your autograph book, wasn't it, Caroline?

>> Yes, yeah.

From way back when.

>> From way back.

>> And it has autographs from '60s and '70s music legends like The Who, Cliff Richard and Dusty Springfield.

>> Not 100, Not 200, but £230.

It's bid at £230.

All that hard work was worth it, 240.

Thank you, Sonya.

Your bidder at 240.

250 is bid.

260 is bid here.

>> Rival Internet bidders are waiting to make their move.

>> 320 is bid, 340, looking for 360 from you now, Emma.

Are you back at 360?

Otherwise Sonya's going to win it.

Fair warning at £340.

>> Wow.

>> An incredible result for Caroline's slice of pop history.

>> Well, that paid off.

>> Well worth it.

>> But that's not the end of the autographs.

>> Finally, Caroline stumbled across the Beatles crossing Abbey Road and got George Harrison's autograph in this London street map.

Caroline, it's your A-Z.

>> Oh, my goodness.

Yes.

Yeah.

No mobile phones in those days.

>> No mobile phones in those days.

No.

You couldn't even take a photograph of him to sort of say "you signed my A-Z."

300, 320, 340 is bid.

360.

380 is bid.

At 400, 420 I have.

>> The Internet bidders are going mad for George's autograph.

>> At £520.

It's with your bidder, Sonya.

I've got 520.

540.

Thank you.

Determined bidding here as well.

£560.

At 560.

The bid is settled at 560, and I will sell it if we're all settled.

>> Wow.

>> Wow!

>> Unbelievable.

>> That's a big one.

>> That's gone for well over the estimate.

The bidders have loved the pop memorabilia today.

>> I think that might be the most valuable A-Z we've ever sold.

>> What a day.

>> All I ask is, could I have both your autographs now so that in 40, 50 years... >> She's thinking ahead.

>> You're not going to make £500.

>> That's a fabulous result to finish with.

Congratulations to Caroline and Tom.

And well done, Christina.

>> Well, who knew that hanging out on zebra crossings could be quite so lucrative?

>> I'd never believed it.

I felt I'd like to go take the family on holiday.

And depending how much was made, there'll be 11 of us.

>> 11 of you?

>> Yes.

Yes.

>> That does not sound like a holiday as far as I'm concerned.

>> A coach trip really, isn't it?

>> So after commission and fees, you have made £2,927.

>> Wow!

That's really incredible.

>> And do you remember those racing silks that we sent off to a specialist sporting memorabilia auction?

Well, one did belong to the Queen's father and was sold at auction for an incredible £5,000, more than doubling Caroline and Tom's total.

>> Okay.

Okay.

>> Decent amount, isn't it?

>> Yeah, that's wonderful.

It's just been brilliant today, and thank you.

It could have been quite traumatic because we're selling a lot of family heirlooms.

But actually it's been really fun.

>> Come on, muscles, you can do it.

I'm so pleased.

The autographs massively exceeded my expectations.

Bend from the knees.

>> There we go.

And in.

>> And in.

Perfect.

I think we've certainly started the process for Caroline and Tom, which has been such, such an emotional roller coaster for them.

>> The message for Will and Christina is really a big, big thank you because their expertise and their care and their knowledge have been brilliant.

>> I think our job here is done.

It's time for us to leave this incredible bubble of historical buildings and find new antique adventures.

You were really good today, Christina.

>> Why, thanks.

>> I mean, you're always good.

>> I'm just delighted for Caroline and Tom because it just gives them that chance to move on now, doesn't it?

♪ ♪ ♪